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The community living, working and commuting along Alum Rock Avenue has been dealing with construction issues related to the new Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) system for over three years.

Recently they discovered that the street modifications came with some unexpected changes. The bottom line is that many are upset that left turns and U-turns, which they have depended on for decades are no longer an option, hindering their access to homes and businesses.

Left Turns and U-Turns between US 101 to Jackson Ave

Here is the new rules for traffic signals along Alum Rock Avenue from 101 to Jackson Avenue.

33rd Street
• Left turns allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)
• U-Turns not allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)34th Street
• Left turns not allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)
• U-Turns not allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)King Road
• Left turns allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)
• U-Turns allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)McCreery Avenue
• Left turns not allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)
• U-Turns not allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)Sunset Avenue
• Left turns allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)
• U-Turns allowed for passenger cars in both directions (West and East Bound)
• U-Turns not allowed for long trucks and long vehicles.Jose Figueres Avenue
• Left turns not allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)
• U-Turns not allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)Scharff Avenue
• Pedestrian crossing only (no turns allowed)Jackson Avenue
• Left turns allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)
• U-Turns allowed in both directions (West and East Bound)

However, the lack of U-turns has become a major issue for businesses, such as Adega. If someone gets reservations and drives to Adega for the first time, they cannot overshoot their destination. If they miss the valet parking and drive past, they may end up going home.

The normal reaction would be to double back, once you have seen how things are laid out. Unfortunately, the following scenario is common. They get off 101 at Alum Rock and head East past 33rd street, but miss the tiny driveway to the restaurant’s parking area. They continue past 34th (no left turn, no U-turn) to King and make a U-turn. Now, heading West on Alum Rock, they begin looking for a U-turn. Not being familiar with the area, how would they know that there is no intersections marked as safe for a U-turn for over two miles! Santa Clara Street is narrow. There simply isn’t a good spot for left turns — except one.

Now we come to Caltrans

There is one place where a U-turn could safely be added. Unfortunately, neither the Valley Transit Authority (VTA) or the City of San Jose’s Department of Transportation (DOT) have authority over it. We are talking about the interchange at the West end of the Santa Clara Street bridge over highway 101.

When asked about this, the knee jerk reaction from Caltrans, without looking at any of the issues, was “No”. So, I am posting this to see if we can get them to at least look into the problem. It is estimated that it would cost around $250,000 to reconfigure the intersection at 33rd Street to include a U-Turn. For that amount of money, the 101 bridge could be modified to include the U-turn, add pedestrian bulb outs and bike lanes.

Start talking with you neighborhood groups and representatives and lets see if we can make it work.

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